DEAR HARRIETTE: Several students in my daughter’s school have died by suicide in the past two years. Now we are hearing of college presidents and other professionals who are taking their lives. This trend is frightening. Though I can turn off the news at home, my daughter is still aware of these tragedies. I am so worried for her and her friends. The school has made efforts to support and protect them, but I need to help as well. I’m at a loss. What in the world do you say in situations like this? -- Dealing With Suicide

DEAR DEALING WITH SUICIDE: This hits close to home for me. My best friend in high school died by suicide on her 16th birthday. It was a horrible experience for all of us, and her parents shut down completely. They couldn’t handle it, and the friends were left to fend for themselves. Back then, we didn’t talk to our parents much. All I remember is our friends whispering together, but never understanding.

As an adult, I have done my best to talk to my daughter when these tragedies happen and to look for support in any way that I can find it. There is a lot of help around. It seems to be most important to acknowledge what happened, to be close to your children and to listen to them. You should watch their behavior to notice if they are acting differently, especially if they start using substances, locking themselves in their rooms or acting out. Get counseling for them if there’s any inkling of emotional crisis for them. That means you really should get professional help, at least for a while.

For more support, go to:

childmind.org/article/supporting-children-after-the-suicide-of-a-classmate.

DEAR HARRIETTE: The economy has not been my friend in the past year. I have my own company, and I lost two clients at the end of last year. I realize that I cannot keep all of my employees now. I just don’t have the resources to pay their salaries. I am hoping that I can take advantage of new technology to support my business, but I’m not even sure how to do all of that. What steps can I take to stay alive? -- Need Help

DEAR NEED HELP: You are correct that technology can support you in your business, even though you will have to learn a few things. You can use services like ChatGPT or Otter.ai to record your meetings and give you action points immediately after. You can use calendar organizing tools like Calendly or TidyCal to help you schedule appointments without an executive assistant. Project management tools abound. Two that are popular are Asana and Monday. Go online and search for the services you need. You can even find an affordable virtual assistant through services that are much like the temp agencies of old.

Do not despair. You need to be organized and clear about the services you need. Then you can find many of them affordably without having to pay all of the costs associated with full-time employees -- at least during this lean period.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: I've spent my entire life in a small town, but I've reached a point where I'm eager to embark on a journey for personal, professional and spiritual growth by moving elsewhere. The idea of this transition excites me, yet I haven't shared my plans with anyone in my close circle. I fear I won't receive the support I deeply crave for this significant move. How can I manage this situation and find the encouragement I need to pursue this new chapter in my life? -- Making a Move

DEAR MAKING A MOVE: Think about one person in your life who will support you. Confide in that person so that you don’t feel completely isolated. Don’t ask that friend to co-sign everything you are planning. Instead, ask the person to listen and provide honest feedback as well as confidentiality. You want to be the one to share your plans when you are ready.

As you consider where you are going, do your research. In addition to work opportunities, look for civic and cultural activities that interest you. Figure out if you know anyone who lives in the places you are considering. Schedule a visit to each potential location so that you can scope them out and narrow down your choices. Decide how far away you will feel comfortable living. Can you afford a plane ticket, or is a long car ride more appropriate?

DEAR HARRIETTE: I've been friends with someone for a while, and while we speak regularly when things are going well for her, I often find myself initiating contact. However, whenever she faces challenges or inconveniences, she completely disappears for extended periods, ranging from three months to more than a year at one point.

I've come to the decision that I no longer want to continue this friendship, but I feel guilty about it because I know communication isn't her strong suit. How can I handle this situation without feeling like it's my responsibility to overcome her communication difficulties? -- Ready To Say Goodbye

DEAR READY TO SAY GOODBYE: The good news in this situation is that you may not have to say a word. This friend comes and goes at will, and you don’t like it. The next time she comes back, be unavailable. You do not have to pick up the phone, respond to her texts or agree to hang out just because she reaches out. You don’t have to respond at all if you don’t care to do so. Or you can simply state that you are not free. Over time, your friend may notice that you have not connected on the various occasions when she has reached out. If she ever approaches you about the disconnection, that’s when you can say that you got tired of having a friendship only at her convenience, so you decided to step back. If she has decided it’s time to be attentive to your friendship, the two of you can revisit it -- on mutually agreeable terms.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm in a relationship where we've mutually agreed to exclusivity, yet we haven't formalized our relationship status. We value the natural flow of our connection, but I desire more clarity. How can I guide conversations about defining our relationship without putting undue pressure on the organic progression we've cherished? Sometimes the lack of an official definition makes me anxious, and I find myself pondering the future of our relationship. -- What’s Next

DEAR WHAT’S NEXT: What do you want for your future? When you think about your life, what do you see, and do you see that potentially with this partner? Now is the time to talk to your partner about your vision of your future and ask about theirs. Too often, people drift together without clarity. For some people, that’s fine, but often one partner is not as comfortable. That stems from not knowing how you fit into your partner’s dreams for the future.

Time and again, I have seen couples who have different views of the meaning of a relationship. Being monogamous is great, but surely it's not everything. What else might one want? To plan a life together? To marry -- or at least agree to be in it for the long haul? Some just want to enjoy the moment without boundaries. Some feel the need to be free, while others yearn for the stability of connection.

You may not be ready to propose marriage, but what do you propose? You need to know what that is. Otherwise, your insecurity about the future will remain as a looming weight. Do not wait for your partner to tell you what’s next. Figure out what you want the next step to be and propose that.

DEAR HARRIETTE: As a 20-year-old man with a full-time job in sales, I'm keen on laying a solid financial foundation while having relatively few obligations. Last year, one of my New Year's resolutions was to improve my financial situation, but I struggled to make significant progress. What realistic steps can I take this year to enhance my financial stability without feeling overwhelmed by the process? Specifically, I'd appreciate advice on establishing good financial habits for the long term, considering my current stage in life. -- Financial Success

DEAR FINANCIAL SUCCESS: The best advice I have ever received about becoming financially fit is to spend within your means. If you want to build wealth, start by spending less than you earn. Simple, but profound -- and not always easy to do -- but that alone can help create financial stability. From there, you can learn how to invest and grow your money.

By literally doing the basics, you can turn your finances around. Pay your bills on time. Do your best not to get into debt by overusing credit cards. Cut back on all unnecessary expenses. Create a budget and stick to it. Review it weekly to ensure that you are on track. Don’t get derailed by trying to keep up with your friends. Be frugal and consistent, and engage a financial planner who can help you map out an investment strategy to make the most out of the money you’ve got. Check out Tiffany Aliche, the Budgetnista (thebudgetnista.com), who has tools to help you build your credit and grow your money.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)